Students

Welcome!
This page is for you as a student to find out how you can connect your academic interests and coursework at the University of Miami with service to and involvement in the community through hands-on, experiential education that is transformative.

Visit our About Us page to learn about our mission, goals, and major initiatives, and to see how we work with faculty, students, and community organizations to foster engagement, learning, and scholarship.

Major Initiatives and Student Opportunities

UM Civic Scholars:The University of Miami encourages students to promote positive social change in the greater Miami community as engaged citizens. Students have the opportunity to cooperate in co-curricular service activities through more than 40 service-based student organizations and volunteer service projects. This program is offered through the Office of Civic and Community Engagement and the Butler Center for Service and Leadership at the University of Miami. To sign up for more information, click here.

Southridge High School Partnership: UM History and English majors partner with Southridge High School teachers in history and language arts to enhance the curriculum, give guest lectures, and mentor students. Interested in learning more about these partnership opportunities? Click here for the application and additional information.

Focus on Affordable Housing: Interested in the issue of affordable housing? Our Focus on Affordable Housing initiative for 2011-2012 brings together students, faculty, and community housing organizations to address strategies for improving housing options in Miami. Students can choose from numerous courses during the Fall and Spring semesters that relate to the issues of housing affordability, social inequality, and urban development that impact people’s access to housing. View these Fall 2011 courses that you can take (a link for Spring 2012 courses will be added when available). In addition, several of our community partners are offering affordable housing related internships for students. Finally, our Office is sponsoring a series of panel discussions and lectures on the issue of affordable housing. All of our public programs are free and open to the public. Click here for a list of our public programs related to housing.

Gables Fellows Program: This is a paid internship with the City of Coral Gables that provides students with hands-on knowledge of the day-to-day operations of municipal government. For more information on the Gables Fellow Program, contact Alicia Rodriguez at the Toppel Career Center via alrodriguez@miami.edu.

Good Government Initiative: Developed by former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, this program trains newly elected officials in good governing practices and offers internship opportunities for UM students.

Also, we’d like to hear from you!
Do you think one of your current or past courses would benefit from incorporating community engagement as a component of the curriculum? Or, do you have an idea for a community-based project, but don’t know where to start? If so, please contact us.